Apparatus for working ordnance.



Patented Mar. 6, I900. R. MATTHEWS. APPARATUS FOR WORKING ORDNANCE.

(Application filed Aug. 21, 1899.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 1,

(No Model.)

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Patented Mar. 6, 1900.

R. MATTHEWS. APPARATUS FOR WORKING ORDNANCE.

(Apglicgtion filed Aug. 21, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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No.'644,992. Patented Mar. 6, 1900.

n. MATTHEWS.

APPARATUS FOR WORKING UBDNANCE, (Application flied Aug. 21, 1899.) (N0 MOGBL) 4 Sheets$h08t 4.

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'' Nita TATES Fa NICE" ROBERT MATTHEWS, or MANCHESTER, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR WORKING ORDNANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,992, dated March 6, 1900. Application filed August 21, 1899. Serial No. 727,994. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ROBERT MATTHEWS, engineer, asubject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Openshaw, Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Apparatus for Working Ordnance, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the working of heavy guns, and has for its object to provide means whereby in the event of the failure of the hydraulic or other power employed for running the gun in and out it can be run out at any angle of elevation by hand-operated or other auxiliary gearing and be retained in such position without danger of its running back unintentionally and injuring the gun- 11ers or the gearing, such means, however, being so contrived that the gun will not be prevented from recoiling on shock of discharge. For this purpose I employ a slipping pawl or other form of trip-gear which is carried by the cradle or carriage of the gun or some other recoiling part of the mounting, such pawl being adapted to engage with a non-recoiling part of the mounting by the action of a spring which is so loaded as to cause the pawl to retain the gun in its runout position until it is fired, when the spring will be overcome and permit the pawl to disengage itself and allow the gun to recoil in the ordinary manner.

In order that my said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a sectional side elevation showing one form of my trip-gear apparatus and so much of the gun-mounting as will suffice for a proper explanation of my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section illustrating the hand-gearing shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately on the line 1 l of Fig. 1 looking toward the right. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the slipping pawl slightly varied in construction from that shown in the preceding figures. Fig. 6

is a vertical section of a portion of the gunindicate similar parts, and in both of the arrangements illustrated the cradle is supposed to have been run forward and to havecarried the gun into its firing position.

A is the recoiling part or cradle, in which the gun is mounted in the well-known manner. B is the frame upon which the said cradle slides. C is the piston which works in the hydraulic cylinders D D and to which the said cradle is rigidly connected by the socket or bracket E.

Referring more particularly to the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, F is an endless sprocket-chain passing around sprocketwheels F F mounted on stationary axes F carried by the under frame of the gun-mounting. One of the sprocketwvheels-viz., F -is mounted on a sleeve F, that carries a bevelwheel F which is capable of being revolved by any suitable hand-operated or other auxiliary gearing provided for the purpose. G is the slipping pawl, which is pivotally mounted at g in the socket or bracket E, with which the cradle is provided, and through such socket the endless chain F passes. g is the spring by which the said pawl is pressed inwardly to engage with one or other of several projections ff with which the endless chain is provided, these projections being so arranged that when the gun and cradle recoil the nose 9 of the said pawl will lie immediately in front of one of the projections, as represented by dotted lines in Fig. 2. Therefore in the event of the failure of the motive power (which in the present instance is hydraulic) for running the gun out to its firing position the said sprocket-chain can be caused to travel in the direction of the arrows, Fig. 2, by operating the aforesaid sprocket-wheels through the auxiliary gearing. Thus the said pawl, and consequently the cradle carrying it, is run forward and the gun is brought to its firing position, any liability of the pawls becoming disengaged from the projection dur ing this operation being prevented by the resistance of the said spring g. The gun having thus been run out, it is maintained in such position by the pawls engagement with the said projection in the sprocket-chain, and any tendency of the chain or the auxiliary gearing to move backwardly under the weight or the recoil of the gun is avoided by a springcontrolled ratchet II, engaging with ratchetteeth H, formed in the face of the bevel-wheel F. In place of this ratchet deviceI may, however, employ any other appropriate means for the purpose. The nose of the pawl G and the face of the projections with which it engages are inclined, so that on firing the gun the rearward stress on the cradle due to the shock of discharge will cause the pawl to move outwardly against the resistance of the spring g, whereby the pawl will be disengaged and permit the gun and the cradle to recoil in the usual manner. The said pawl then occupies a position corresponding with that represented by the dotted lines in Fig. 2 ready to be carried forward again by the adjacent projection on the sprocket-chain when the auxiliary gearing is next actuated. When the gun is run out by the ordinary hydraulic or other power provided for the purpose, it will be readily understood that the sprocket-chain remains stationary, and that the pawl G merely runs over the forward projection f as the cradle and its socket E advance, and that on firing the gun the pawl becomes disengaged from this projectionby the shock of discharge, as already explained. If desired, the aforesaid project-ions on the sprocket-chain maybe arranged in pairs and the nose of the spring-pawl G formed in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5, so that when the hydraulic or other power apparatus is disabled the said pawl will act to prevent the gun from shifting longitudinally by the rolling of the ship, whether the said gun he run out or run in. The spring g controlling the pawl is preferably made capable of adjustment, so that its resistance can be increased or diminished to cause the pawl to engage more or less firmly with the projections on the sprocket-chain. I have for this purpose (as best seen in Fig. 5) represented the outer end of the said spring supported by an adjustable screw 9", carried by the socket E. By turning this screw in one or other direction the resistance of the spring can be readily varied.

In some cases Iconstruct the aforesaid pawl G with a tail Fig. 5, with which a screw 9 carried by the socket E, engages. The turning of this screw in the proper direction will cause the said pawl to be set into such a position that its nose will lie out of reach of the aforesaid projections f, whereby said pawl will be thrown entirely out of action.

By arranging the sprocket-chain to pass through the aforesaid socket E, I provide for effectually supporting the said chain against inward movement, which would otherwise take place by the pressure of the nose of the pawl and render the working of the apparatus unsatisfactory.

The auxiliary gearing illustrated in the drawings for enabling the sprocket-chain to be operated comprises a bevel-pinion I mounted on a transverse shaft F and formed in one piece, with a bevel-wheel F that gears with a bevel-pinion F mounted on an inclined shaft F which latter, by bevel-pinions F F is geared with the shaft F By reason of the shaft F being carried by a part of the mounting which receives movement when the gun is elevated or depressed and of the shaft F being carried by a part of the mounting which does not so move it is necessary to provide means whereby the relative position of these two shafts can vary in accordance with the alterations in'the angle of elevation of the gun. For this purpose the said shaft F is mounted at its lower end in a socket F which is capable of rocking about the axis of the shaft F and the bevel-pinion F is adapt-.

ed to revolve in a bracket F which is free to oscillate about the axis of the shaft F The said shaft F is free to slide through the pinion F and the bracket F and is made rectangular tocorrespond with the hole in the pinion through which it passes, so that While it is free to slide longitudinally, as required,

it will always remain in rotative connection with the pinion. If worm and worm-wheel gearing be employed for actuating the said sprocket-chain, the aforesaid ratchet arrangement II II will be unnecessary.

It will be obvious that instead of arranging the sprocket-chain F to work in a horizontal plane, as represented in the drawings, it can be arranged to work equally well in a vertical plane.

Referring now to the arrangement illustrated by Figs. 6, 6, 7, and 8, Ihave dispensed with the sprocket-chain F and sprocket-wheels F F illustrated in the previous figures and substituted therefor a rack Lwith which gears a toothed pinion I, carried by a transverse shaft F This toothed pinion receives its motion from auxiliary gearing, which (with the exception that the socket F and the bracket F are inverted) is similar to the auxiliary gearing already referred to in the preceding figures, and therefore needs no further description. The rack I is carried bya downward extension a on the cradle of the gun, but does not recoil with the said cradle. By operating the aforesaid auxiliary gearing the pinion I, that gears with the rack, can be revolved in either direction to cause the rack to travel forward or backward, as. may be necessary, in the event of the ordinary hydraulic or other power failing. The pav'l G, which is also of similar construction tothat already described, is adapted to engage with a recess formed by the projections ff on the said rack in an analogous manner to that above stated with reference to the sprocket-chain F. IVhen the gun is in its firing position, the said pawl will resist the tendency of the'gun to run backward under the action of gravity, but, as in the previous arrangement, will give way on shock of discharge and allow the gun to recoil in the ordinary manner, the rack remaining stationary during the recoil by reason of the pinion I and the other parts of the auxiliary gearing being held by the ratchet H Fig. 6, engaging with the ratchet-wheel I1 fixed to the shaft F Fig. 7. H is a rod which is connected with the ratchet H and is under the control of the gunner, so that he can disengage the ratchet from the ratchetwheel afterfiring the gun and permit the rack to be moved rearward by the auxiliary gearing for the purpose of bringing the projectionsf into rengagement with the pawl G when the latter and the cradle carrying it are in their recoiled position. Then by revolving the auxiliary gearing in the reverse direction, the pawl G being still in engagement with the projections f, the cradle and gun can be run out to their firing position again. In other respects the working of this modified apparatus is similar to that already described. If the aforesaid pawl G be provided with the tailpiece g the said screw g will act to prevent the pawl from being pressed inwardly too far by its spring when it becomes disengaged from the rack. The aforesaid ratchet and ratchet-wheel also operate to prevent the gun from running'backward while it is being moved to its firing position by the auxiliary gearing. If, however, worm-gearing be employed, the aforesaid ratchet and ratchetwheel will be unnecessary. Instead of employing only a single pawl G, I may in the present arrangement use a pair of pawls and two racks, as shown, in which case I provide a transverse lever G, centrally pivoted to the cradle at G the ends of such lever being formed to receive the springs g, by which the pawls are controlled. This lever enables the pressure of the springs on the said pawls to be equalized. The arrangement of the aforesaid pawl on a recoiling part of the gun-mounting to gear with a projection or recess on or in a non-recoiling part may obviously be reversed-that is to say, the pawl may be on the non-recoiling part and the projection or recess on or in the recoiling part.

Although in the drawings I have illustrated the auxiliary gearing adapted to be worked manually, I wish it to be understood that, if desired, such gearing may be worked by steam, electrical, or other power.

That I claim is- 1. In apparatus for working heavy guns, the combination of means for enabling the recoiling part iii the mounting to be run out by auxiliary gearing in the event of the power by which the gun is ordinarily run out to its firing position becoming inoperative, and of trip-gear adapted to maintain the gun in its run-out position at any angle of elevation and to release the same and permit it to recoil on shock of discharge.

2. In apparatus for working heavy guns, the combination of means for enabling the recoiling part of the mounting to be run out byauxiliary gearing in the event of the power by which the gun is ordinarily run out to its firing position becoming inoperative, and of trip-gear carried by a recoiling part of themounting and adapted to engage with a nonrecoiling part of the said mounting for the purposes specified.

3. In apparatus for working heavy guns, the combination of means for enabling the recoiling part of the mounting to be run out by auxiliarygearing in the event of the power by which the gun is ordinarily run out to its firing position becoming inoperative, and of trip-gear, in the form of a spring-pawl, carried by the recoiling part of the mounting and adapted to engage with projections or recesses of a non-recoiling part of the mounting for the purposes specified.

e. In apparatus for working heavy guns, the combination of means for enabling the recoiling part of the mounting to be run out by auxiliary gearing in the event of the power by which the gun is ordinarily run out to its firing position becoming inoperative, of a spring-pawl carried by the recoiling part of the mounting, and of a sprocket-chain forming part of the auxiliary gearing and having projections or recesses for engagement with the said pawl substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. In apparatus for working heavy guns,

the combination with the auxiliary gearing,

the spring-pawl and the endless sprocketchain forming part of the auxiliary gearing, of projections on said chain to engage with the said pawl, the distance apart of the said projections being such that when the gun is in either its run-out position or its run-in position the said pawl will engage with one of the said projections substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. In apparatus for working heavy guns, the combination with the auxiliary gearing, and the spring-pawl, of projections on the non-recoiling part of the mounting such projections having inclined faces and of an inclined nose on said pawl to engage with said inclined faces substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In apparatus for Working heavy guns the combination with the auxiliary gearing, the spring-pawl and the endless sprocketchain having projections to engage with the pawl and forming part of the said auxiliary gearing, of a bracket on the recoiling part of the mounting through which bracket the said chain passes and by which it is supported against the pressure of the spring-pawl substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. The combination with the trip-gear, of auxiliary gearing comprising a toothed pinion which is carried by an axle on a part of the mounting which moves about the axis of the gun-trunnions in elevating the gun and which pinion imparts forward movement to the recoiling part of the mounting, a Wheel adapted to operate the auxiliary gearing and mounted on an axle which is carried bya part of the mounting that does not participate in the movements of the gun in its elevation, of

intermediate gearing for operatively con nectthe recoiling part of the mounting to be run out by auxiliary gearing in the event of the power by which the gun is ordinarily run out to its firing position becoming inoperative, of a pair of spring-pawls adapted to maintain the gun in its run-out position at any angle of elevation and to release the same and per; unit it to recoil on shock of discharge, and of a transverse lever pivoted to the recoiling part and adj ustably supporting the springs pit (she said pawls as and for the purpose speci- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 9th day of August, 1899.

' ROBERT MATTHEWS.

\Vitnesses:

- GEORGE L. WnBs'rER,

SAMUEL GUEsr. 

